New Orleans man sentenced to 30 years for dealing heroin in Metairie

A former New Orleans resident who has served prison time for homicide and narcotics convictions tied to the city's illegal drug trade pleaded guilty in Jefferson Parish Tuesday to dealing heroin in Metairie.

Bruce Moore, 30, of 4201 Yale St., whom authorities say was an unemployed drug dealer, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, distributing heroin and possession with the intent to distribute heroin. The three convictions are in addition to a criminal history that includes convictions for manslaughter and accessory to second-degree murder, for which he served no more than five years in prison.

His latest arrest was Jan. 3, when Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office narcotics officers spotted him selling heroin to a woman in the 2300 block of Houma Boulevard, near West Napoleon Avenue, according to a police affidavit. The deputies stopped Moore's car and found it smelled like "high-grade marijuana," and they found six pieces of foil containing heroin, according to the affidavit.

When searching his nearby apartment, deputies found 25 grams of heroin and a 9 mm pistol. Assistant District Attorney Vince Paciera, who prosecuted the case with Jerry Smith, described it as "a substantial amount of heroin packaged in resale mode."

Moore, who was barred from possessing firearms because of his previous felony convictions, claimed the gun belonged to his girlfriend, Paciera said.

Flanked by his attorneys Martin Regan and John Fuller, Moore mumbled "yeah," in a raspy voice in responding to questions by Judge Ellen Kovach of the 24th Judicial District Court. Regan told him to respond with "Yes, ma'am," a request Moore heeded.

Kovach sentenced him to 20 years in prison for the gun charge and 30 years for each of the heroin charges, and she ran the sentences concurrent. Moore then pleaded guilty to being a multiple offender, meaning he won't be eligible for early release until he serves 25 years in prison.

Moore was charged in New Orleans with second-degree murder in the Feb. 8, 2004, deaths of Edward "Chocolate" Taylor, who was shot more than 30 times in the head with an assault rifle, and Larmondo "Flair" Allen. They were killed near the Guste public housing complex, during a gunfight that authorities said was tied to control over illegal narcotics.

But in a deal he reached with New Orleans prosecutors, Moore pleaded guilty to accessory to murder and received a five-year prison sentence in exchange for his testimony against Twdarryl Toney . A New Orleans jury in 2006 convicted Toney of manslaughter but could not reach a verdict on the other murder charge. Toney is serving a 40-year prison sentence, records show.

By that time, Moore already had a 2003 conviction for manslaughter, which he received a 14-month sentence, and possession of crack and aggravated assault.

In April, he netted 15 years in prison for his guilty pleas in New Orleans to possession of heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin, first-offense possession of marijuana, flight from an officer marijuana, records show.

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Paul Purpura can be reached at ppurpura@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3791.